Best Things To Do Before Graduating From UT Knoxville

Knoxville is an easy place for adjustment. There’s lots to do, people to meet, and places to eat. It can be overwhelming at first, especially if you’re from a small town. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine building a community here because it is a pretty big place. But I promise you there is something for everyone, with every kind of possible interest out there.

From concerts to home football games, to construction and no one knowing how to drive in the snow, here are the top 10 things you should experience before you graduate from UTK.

10. Attend a home football game (or two!)

Even if you aren’t a football fan, and no, some people aren’t, you should attend at UT football game in Neyland Stadium. It’s easily one of the most iconic college football fan bases and stadium. If you can force yourself to stay for one quarter and experience the team “running through the T,” at least you’ll be able to say you’ve done it.

I guarantee that singing ‘Rocky Top’ with 102,000 people in a stadium will make your heart a little happy. If only just a little. You’ll probably end up staying for the entire game and buying your ticket earlier next time.

9. Eat a cheeseburger at 2 a.m. at Gus’s

Gus’s has some of the best grub. Especially when you’re starving and it’s late at night. If you haven’t eaten at least one cheeseburger at Gus’s, you’re not an actual student here.

8. Hike The Bluffs with your dog

It’s the prettiest spot in Knoxville. Even if you hate to hike (which would be me), you should spend some time walking your dog at the Bluffs. He’ll love it and so will you. A Sunday afternoon well spent for sure.

7. Go to Market Square and eat until your little heart’s content

Some of the best times are had by friend groups in Market Square. Getting dressed up and heading downtown for some good eats and smooth drinks are some of the best times you’ll have in college. If you don’t attend a festival in Market Square, eat at every restaurant (twice), and get a $10 henna, you didn’t really go to school here. Don’t even try to call yourself a graduate.

6. Get a parking ticket

We all know that UT sells way more parking tickets than they have spots around campus. There’s no way you’re a legitimate graduate of UT if you didn’t get at least one parking ticket or have your car towed. It’s bound to happen. You aren’t legit until it does.

5. Visit Gatlinburg in the winter

It’s beautiful. I’m serious. If you don’t spend at least one full day in this gorgeous place, you can’t say you’ve truly visited the area. There are tons of cabins to rent and places to shop. There’s Ober Gatlinburg for skiing and snowboarding and lots of hot chocolate to be sipped on. Take a day and visit. It will be well worth it.

4. Listen to “Rocky Top” one too many times

When you first get here, you won’t think there’s such thing as “too much Rocky Top,” but I guarantee by your fourth football season, you’ll want to rewrite the song we sing in Neyland purely for the reason of saving yourself some sanity. Sure, you can try one thousand different variations, but none are as good as the original.

3. Lose your VolCard

Those dang things are so hard to keep up with. If you haven’t lost your VolCard at least once and paid $30 for a new one, you never really were a Vol. The repercussions of losing this card are insane; you can’t eat anywhere on campus unless you pay cash, you won’t be able to identify yourself for exams, you won’t be able to check anything out at the library, and you’ll have a tough time getting into the games!

Here’s my advice: as soon as you lose it — replace it!

2. Experience “the big orange screw”

Whether it’s financial aid or not getting a ticket to a football game as a senior, there’s no way you can make it through four years (or more) here without getting screwed. Sometimes you just have to laugh about it and move on.

1. Take at least one senior picture on “the seal,” post it to social media, and tell everyone you know that you FRIGGIN’ MADE IT

They say walking on “the seal” will curse you. They say you won’t be able to graduate in four years. So naturally, it’s a good idea to get a picture standing right on top of that bad boy before you walk across the stage. Some people believe in the curse — wholeheartedly. And they’ll yell at you and tell you to get off. But don’t. Take that picture. Stand on that seal because you deserve it.

Follow Lorena

Lorena graduated from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a BA in Honors Psychology. She is currently interviewing for PhD School Psychology graduate programs across the country and hopes to research early math curriculum and instruction. Along with writing for Uloop, Lorena is a preschool teacher, K-12 substitute teacher, and math tutor. She enjoys taking her Whippet mix, Gio, to the dog park and drinking hot chocolate in front of Netflix.
She's known for her strong opinions, busy schedule, and obsession with cute dogs. If you want to reach her, email her at grober18@vols.utk.edu